Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 9th at 4:25 PM ET
Location: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA
Betting Odds: LAR, -5.5, 43 Total on Oddsshark
Network: Fox
Writer: Justin Herrera (@semtexmex93 on Twitter)
Dallas Cowboys
Quarterback
Cooper Rush (Sit)
Cooper Rush is undefeated as a starter for the Dallas Cowboys, but last week’s performance was his first QB2 performance. Rush has averaged 224 yards and a touchdown in every game he’s started. On the other hand, the Rams have only allowed one QB1 performance, Josh Allen Week 1; they also only allow 18 fantasy points to QBs. Last week was his best matchup against the Commanders’ lackluster defense (allowing 21.2 fantasy points to QBs). If Rush’s best performance was 17.6 against a bad secondary, we shouldn’t expect much more against a significantly better team. I’m not expecting him to hit his QB2 ceiling this week, so sit him.
Running Backs
Ezekiel Elliott (Sit), Tony Pollard (Start, Low-End Flex)
Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard are in a split backfield, making ranking them in fantasy difficult. Pollard has the juice but has only played in 50+ percent of snaps one time this year, and Elliott has even run more routes than Pollard (60:45). Elliott and Pollard will be playing the Rams, who have the best-run defense in the game, allowing 10.1 fantasy points to running backs. This is a running back room that may be difficult to figure out in this game, and If I were to guess, I would play Pollard because of his ability to break off big plays.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
CeeDee Lamb (Start, WR1), Michael Gallup (Start, Low-End Flex), Dalton Schultz (Sit)
CeeDee Lamb is averaging 10.5 targets a game and is going on back-to-back WR8 weeks. Lamb currently has the second most air yards (458) amongst receivers. Lamb also has a 33.1% target share, and with the addition of Michael Gallup, Lamb should see fewer double teams and could become a bigger threat in this offense. I will be starting Lamb this week as a WR1, especially if the Rams’ defense continues to be lackluster against opposing wide receivers. Gallup returned from injury last week and scored a touchdown while catching two passes for 24 yards. Look for Gallup to be a decent flex this week with the opportunity for a touchdown. The Rams have allowed 30.7 fantasy points to wide receivers; this week could be more of the same. Dalton Schultz has yet to become the favorite of Cooper Rush, and last week, he didn’t catch a pass. The Rams have given up the second-fewest fantasy points to the tight end position (2.5). This week I’ll sit Schultz.
Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford (Sit)
The Cowboys have allowed the sixth-fewest points to QBs (12). This is against Carson Wentz, Daniel Jones, Tom Brady, and Joe Burrow, and the latter two were impressive. The Cowboys have the most pressures (55) and the second most sacks (15). Stafford is coming off a game where he was sacked seven times and overall has been sacked 16 times (second most in the league). Why Stafford is a sit is because he’s been picked off six times (most in the league) and fumbled twice. Stafford’s only QB1 game has come against the Atlanta Falcons. The Cowboys aren’t the Falcons, and Stafford’s turnover issues are a problem. Consider him a sit this week against the Cowboys.
Running Backs
Cam Akers (Sit), Darrell Henderson (Sit)
Cam Akers had a 35.6% snap share to Darrell Henderson’s 61.6%; the previous week, they were 50-50. This tells me that this team will be a “hot hand” offense. The Cowboys are ninth-best against fantasy running backs allowing 15.3 points a game. The rushing game for the Rams needs to clear up before I’m willing to confidently start any of these guys.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Cooper Kupp (Start, WR1), Allen Robinson II (Sit), Tyler Higbee (Start, TE1)
Cooper Kupp has a crazy 36% target share that has made him a fantasy star regardless of his QBs struggles. Last week he reeled in 14 of 19 targets for 122 yards, and even though the Rams didn’t score a touchdown, Kupp still finished WR3. Kupp is a start, and you don’t need me to tell you that. On the other hand, Allen Robinson II is not very good so far in 2022. Robinson has averaged five targets and two red zone targets during the past three weeks. That’s a lot of opportunity to not take advantage of, and it will affect my outlook on him this week against the Cowboys. The Cowboys have allowed the ninth fewest fantasy points to wide receivers (19.1), and this week should be hard for anyone not named Kupp to be successful. Last Monday, Tyler Higbee was a target hog, catching 10 of his 14 targets for 73 yards. Although Higbee will be playing the fifth-best defense against fantasy tight ends (2.8 points/game), he just had a great game against the former best team against tight ends. Look for Higbee to reprise his role as Stafford’s number two target; start Higbee on Sunday.